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Costco shopper spends $129, says the same haul would've cost $172 at Walmart

A Costco shopper raised a familiar budgeting question: Does buying in bulk really save money once you factor in food waste, a bigger checkout total, and the cost of a warehouse membership?
thecooldown.com
October 4, 2026
5
Leigh Cook
Costco shopper spends $129, says the same haul would've cost $172 at Walmart
WHAT HAPPENED
s what to know In a TikTok , Budget with Brenda (@budgetwithbrenda) said she spent $129 before taxes and that her A lot of food can go to waste, which is very true. You have to know how to bulk-shop, t usually buyvegetablesor fruits because, for example, a bag of 20 onions will go bad before she uses them all. More background A large one-time buy can strain a budget, even if the unit price is lower. And bulk shopping isn t use. Brenda likewise addressed the warehouse fee, arguing that one trip can cover it.
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